Over $21,000 in Championship Payback @ TORC Sportsman Banquet

Appleton, WI (November 15, 2010) - The Traxxas TORC Series presented by AMSOIL Sportsman Banquet was held this past Saturday at the Paper Valley Radisson in Appleton, Wisconsin. The banquet was hosted by MORR (Midwest Off Road Racing) with 260 off-road enthusiasts in attendance. The banquet was the final event on the MORR calendar and from the size of the turnout and the comments from those in attendance, it was a huge success.

The evening began with a "Bench Racing" hour sponsored by Crandon International Off-Road Raceway and Bark River Off-Road Raceway. Then longtime Crandon Raceway starter Fay Statezny, gave the room the "five to go" announcement as the banquet was about to begin.

With everyone seated, Jay Schaefer, long time racer and minister, presented the opening prayer, just before dinner was served. The master of ceremonies was the familiar "Voice of Crandon" Cheyne Statezny. Cheyne kept the crowd entertained all night as the awards were being handed out.

In 2010, the TORC Sportsman Championship Points was funded by a portion of each racer's weekend entry fees, as well as donations from Crandon International Off-Road Raceway, Bark River Off-Road Raceway, and MORR. The Championship points fund awarded just over $21,000 to 31 Sportsman Competitors.

All the class champions received a Traxxas Slash RC truck, an Oakley Watch, a MORR commemorative plaque, and a USAC medallion honoring their accomplishments.

Earlier in the day, MORR had their election for the three open seats on the Board of Directors. Current MORR Board president, Dan Vanden Heuvel announced the new MORR Board members and all the special MORR awards.

The 2011 MORR Board of Directors:

Dan Vanden Heuvel - current

Don Demeny - reelected

Greg Stingle - new

Mike Vanden Heuvel - current

Jake Vande Voort - new

Geoff Dorr - current

Mike Reusche - current

Javier Sanchez from Crandon International Off-Road Raceway presented the World Championship rings and discussed some of the improvements for the upcoming 2011 season at the "Big House."

2010 Crandon World Champions

Limited 2 - Ben Wandahsega

Super Stock Truck - Mitch Dorr

Super Buggy - CJ Greaves

1600 Buggy - Mark Steinhardt

Light Buggy - Matt Gerald

Formula 4x4 - Milan Mazanec

Classix - Dale Chestnut

Enduro Truck - Chris Bowser

Included on the MORR Board Member Ballot was voting for the special MORR awards.

The 2010 MORR Awards winners:

Butch's Speed Shop sponsored MORR Driver of the Year - Mike Vanden Heuvel

Rookie of the Year - CJ Greaves

Team of the Year - Chris Bowser Racing

Most Improved Driver - John Frana

Tough Luck Award - Matt Gerald

MORR Guy Award - Mike Reusche

MORR also presented special awards to recognize the efforts, on behalf of the Sportsman racers, to the race promoters involved during the 2010 season. They were: Crandon International Off-Road Raceway, Bark River Off-Road Raceway, and Ronn Krueger of the Antigo event.

BFGoodrich also honored Super Buggy Champion CJ Greaves, and 1600 Buggy Champion Mark Steinhardt, with a Mastercraft Racing custom tailored driving suit.

Throughout the evening items donated by various companies in the off-road community were raffled off. Over 150 items were handed out from the following companies: MSD Ignition, KC Hilities, K & N Filters, Jim Conner Racing, Ringers Gloves, McKenzies - Midwest, Phil's Inc, Cellcom, Herculiner - Ross Hoek Motorsports, and AMSOIL.

The final prize of the night was a GoPRO HD Motorsports camera from Phil's Inc. that was won by Kathy Bayer.

Special thanks goes out to Nancy Vanden Heuvel. All the banquet table center pieces were made by Nancy. Even the very tasty cookies were baked by "Mrs. Flying Dutchman."

Amanda Fonferek and Chris Hord, both from Dirt-Productions, were on hand taking photographs and video of the entire night. Look for their work to be posted on www.midwest-offroadracing.com in the near future.

Once the ceremonies concluded, the dance floor was open as the band Renegade performed a variety of rock and country music into the early morning hours.

Sunday morning, TORC representatives Terry Severson and Tiffany Landru, had a meeting with the Sportsman class representatives, MORR Board members, and USAC officials to discuss rules and technical issues for the upcoming 2011 season. The meeting was well received and several issues were discussed as the input from the class reps continues to serve a vital role of communication with the TORC sanctioning body.

2010 TORC Sportsman Total Payback

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NEWS FLASH

TORC RELEASES 2011 RACE SCHEDULE

Sportsman Schedule

Round 1            Red Bud MX/Buchanan, MI                                                                   May 28

Round 2            Red Bud MX/Buchanan, MI                                                                   May 29

Round 3            Crandon International Off-Road Raceway/Crandon, WI                 June 18

Round 4            Crandon International Off-Road Raceway/Crandon, WI                 June 19

Round 5            Langlade Co. Fairgrounds/Antigo,WI                                                 July TBD

Round 6            Langlade Co. Fairgrounds/Antigo,WI                                                 July TBD

Round 7            TBD                                                                                                           July TBD

Round 8            TBD                                                                                                           July TBD

Round 9            Bark River International Raceway/Bark River, MI                              August 13

Round 10          Bark River International Raceway/Bark River, MI                             August 14

Round 11          Crandon International Off-Road Raceway/Crandon, WI                September 03

Round 12          Crandon International Off-Road Raceway /Crandon, WI               September 04